Toy submarine



B. STOP EK TOY SUBMARINE June 4, 1963 Filed. July 21, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BENJAMIN STOPEK I ATTORNEYS.

B. STOPEK TOY SUBMARINE June 4, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 wt s:

Filed July 21, 19

INVENTOR BENJAMIN STOPEK BY ,W,

vgww ATTORNEYS.

B. STOPEK TOY SUBMARINE June '4, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 21. 1960 NS 5 mm. m9 N m9 I: I Iii! $8 NB QR S N9 L v8 @2 MD 09 o mi INVENTOR BENJAMIN STOPEK B Y I ,ve'wm/ ATTORNEYS.

B. STOPEK TOY SUBMARINE June 4, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed. July 21, 1960 INVENTOR BENJAMIN STOPEK yum,

ATTORNEYS.

3,091,895 TOY SUBMARINE Beniamin Stopek, West Hempstead, N.Y., asslgnor to Ideal Toy Corporation, Hollis, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed July 21, 1960, Ser. No. 44,505 13 Claims. (Cl. 46-244) This invention relates to a toy or model watercraft and, more particularly, to a scale model submarine capable of automatically performing a predetermined sequence of evolutions including discharge of a missile.

Various types of motor driven toy or model watercraft are known, these watercraft being driven by battery powered electric motors, rubberbands, small internal combustion engines, or the like. As a general rule, in order for these watercraft to perform any type of evolution, it is necessary to provide the same with a manual control which may be operated from a distance, as by means of a string, cord, or the like. This is particularly true of the case of toy or model submarines. When it has been attempted to provide such a watercraft, and particularly a submarine, which would automatically perform certain evolutions without continuing manual control, the resultant structure has been so bulky, complicated, and expensive as not to be practical commercially.

In accordance with the present invention, a toy or model submarine is provided which is not only so simple in the construction and assembly of its parts that it readily may be assembled in operating condition by an unskilled person, but also includes a single, unitary and very cornpact control unit or cam, driven from the submarine propelling motor acting as a timer motor, and which controls the submarine to make not only a predetermined series of evolutions, such as diving, surfacing, turning to port or starboard, and the like, but also automatically to elevate a missile from within the submarine hull to the deck thereof and to fire this missile. As a further feature, starting and stopping of the submarine is simply and easily effected merely by turning a component projecting through the conning tower, such as, for example, a simulated eriscope, to open and close a switch controlling energization of the propelling motor.

LFQI an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a submarine embodying the invention, a portion of the deck adjacent the stern being broken away;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the submarine taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3a and 3b, when joined together, are a bottom plan view of the upper hull of the submarine with the components mounted therein, this view being taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lower hull of the submarine, illustrating the battery compartment and closure;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the submarine at the conning tower, taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the Windlass assembly, the support therefor being shown in section;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the launcher with the missile thereon, taken on the line 77 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the launcher and missile;

FIG. 9 is a horizontal sectional view of the conning tower, taken on the line 99 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view through the States Patent O Patented June 4, 1963 control box, taken on the line 10-10 of FIG. 3A; and FIG. 11 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the con trol cam.

Bottom Hull Assembly All :of the components of the submarine are mounted within or upon a hull assembly (FIGS. 1 and 2) comprising a bottom hull or bottom section and an upper hull or top section 50. Furthermore, all of the enclosed operating components of the submarine, except the battery, are assembled into the upper hull 50 and, after such assembly of the components therein, the upper hull is disengageably secured to the bottom hull 20.

As best seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, bottom or lower hull 20 is essentially canoe shaped in plan and has a substantially flat bottom or keel 21 formed with two longitudinally spaced series of apertures 22 arranged as grids, so that water may enter the bottom hull except in the battery compartment. Along substantially the intermediate one-thi-rd of its length, the sides of hull 20 are thickened to provide ledges 23. One end of the area defined by these thickened portions is closed by a transverse bulkhead 24 adjacent the rear surface of which a trunnion .26 projects integnally from bottom wall or keel 21. The other end of the area defined by the thickened edges, hereinafter referred to as the battery compartment 25, has a partial transverse bulkhead 27 formed with a semi-circular cutout 28 therein, and reinforced. 'I'he arcuate recess 28 in bulkhead 27 extends downwardly from a diameter extending substantially horizontally of the latter, so that it may be referred to as an outwardly opening recess. On the forward surface of bulkhead 27 there are slotted formations for a purpose to be described, there being two of these slotted formations spaced about 120 degrees apart. Also for a purpose to be described, the keel 21 .of bottom hull 20 has, adjacent the bow of the submarine, a tubular boss 31. Adjacent the stern of the submarine, bottom hull 20 is formed with a tubular rudder post 32 behind which is a longer tubular member 33 arranged to receive a screw for securing the top hull to the bottom hull.

The battery compartment is closed by a semi-cylindrical cover (FIG. 4), of synthetic resin, having dia metrically opposite elongated shoulders 34 arranged to seat on and be cemented to the ledges 23. The rear end of the cover 30 is closed by a semi-cylindrical bulkhead 36 arranged to be cemented to the rear semi-bulkead 24. The bow or forward end of cover 30 is arranged to mate with the forward semi-bulkhead 27 and has a semi-circular recess therein cooperable with recess 28 to form a circular opening for insertion of batteries into the battery compartment. The top portion of the forward end of cover 30 has a lug 37 projecting longitudinally therefrom and formed with a notch, for a purpose to be described.

Before cover 30 is cemented to the hull bottom 20, a piece of insulated wire 38 is inserted through an aperture in the cover adjacent its rear semi-bulkhead 36, and has the insulation removed from its inner end. This bared inner end is then wrapped securely around a tapered coil spring (FIG. 2). Coil spring 35'is then disposed adjacent the rear semi-bulkhead 24, and cover 30 is cemented securely in position in a Watertight and airtight manner.

The forward end of the battery compartment is closed by a removable circular cover 40 (FIG. 4) having three radial lugs 41 spaced uniformly about its edge and arranged to be engaged in the slotted formations on semibulkhead 27 and in the notched lug 37 by rotating the. cover 40. Cover 40 has a cylindrical rim and is reinforced, on its forward surface, by three or more radial vanes 42 (FIG. 2) extending from a central post 43. On the inner or rear surface of the cover 40, center post 43, as shown in FIG. 2, is formed with a threaded aperture to receive a screw 44, and a second aperture 40' extends through front cover 49 adjacent the center post 43. Aninsulated wire 3? is extended through this second aperture 40' and has its inner end bared and secured beneath the screw 44. The battery compartment 25 receives three heavy-duty dry cells 45 arranged in series, and with the base of the rearmost cell engaging the spring 35 and the center post of the foremost cell biased by spring 35 to engage the screw 44;.u1e three-cell battery thus being connected in series between conductors 38 and 39. By virtue of the removable front cover 40, the batteries may be removed from the submarine, when the latter is not in use, and can be readily replaced or interchanged.

Upper Hull Assembly Upper hull 50, as best seen in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 5, is arranged to mate at its edges with lower hull 2G and to be secured in substantially watertight relation thereto. The upper hull isformed with substantially straight side walls 51 and an upper deck 52 having a raised central portion 53 increasing in height and decreasing. in width from the bow toward the stern. Adjacent the bow, there is a transverse bulkhead 54 (FIG. 2) formed with a trapezoidal downwardly opening recess 56 and defining a forward ballast tank 55 accessible through an opening closed by a hinged hatch cover 57. Bow tank 55 is closed by an internally baflled cover 66 having a tapered off-set portion 58 conformingly fitting in the recess 54. Adjacent the forward end of oil-set 58, a pair of tubular bosses for facilitating securing the cover to the sidewalls 51 project downwardly from cover 60. Cover 6th is cemented to the lower edge of bulkhead 54 and to'the edges of recess 56, as well as to a ledge extending alongthe inner surface of side walls 51 at a distance above their lower edges. The tubular bosses extend to the lower edges of the side walls 51 and are suitably cemented thereto.

Adjacent the stern of upper hull 50, bulkheads 61 and 62. define a rear ballast tank 65 (FIG. 2) having anaccess opening closed by a hinged hatch cover 63. A bafiled closure plate 64 is cemented to the lower edges of bulkheads 61 and 62, and to a shoulder formed adjacent the edges of sidewalls 51, to close oil tank 65. It will be noted that closure plate 64 is not a plane plate, but has a recess 66 therein, as shown in FIG. 3A, described more fully hereinafter.

v A transverse-bulkhead 67 disposed forwardly of bulkhead 62 defines therewith a" motor compartment 68. Another bulkhead 71 disposed just rearwardly of the central part of the submarine is of somewhat less height than bulkhead 67 and cooperates therewith to define an amidships ballast tank 70 (FIG. 2) having an access opening closed by a hinged hatch cover 72. A pair of relativelylow, spaced partitions 73, at about the center of the length of the submarine, form the end walls of a control box compartment 75. Forwardly of control box compartment 75, a pair oflongitudinal laterally spaced walls 74 (FIGS. 1 "and 2), triangular in elevation, extend downwardly from the deck 53 and have inturned flanges '76 defining a slot or track 77 which is continued into deck 53 and extends laterally to the right or starboard side thereof as a curved portion 78. Walls 74 terminate just rearwardly of the bow bulkhead 54, and slot 77 is substantially aligned with the off-set 58 in cover plate 60. A streamlined housing portion 80 projects from upper deck 53, having its major portion extending over bow tank 55, and with its rear edge terminating adjacent the forward edges of walls 74. Housing 80 is provided with a hinged cover 79, of streamline shape, which extends into the relatively Wide slot in the upper deck formed by the walls 7 4. 1 V

Adjacent its stem, the upper hull 50 is provided with a pair of horizontal stabilizer fins or planes 81 (FIG. 3A) each having an outwardly opening recess 32 therein and formed with an elongated groove 83. The grooves 83 converge toward the new". A rudder-post 84 is provided rearwardly of bulkhead-6i and is alignable in axial- 1y spaced relation with the rudderpost 32 in the bottom hull. Rearwardly of rudderpos-t 84 there is an internally threaded tubular boss 86 alignable with the boss 33 on the bottom hull.

Driving and Maneuvering ftdechanism The submarine is controlled, as to its propulsion and maneuvers, from a power plant represented by a small direct current motor 85. Motor 85 is cemented into a mounting box- 86 (FIG. 2), being additionally secured therein by means of a screw, and the motor is oriented so that its shaft extends parallel U0 the groove 33 in the starboard fin 81. Mounting box 86 forms a closure for the motor compartment 68, being. secured in position by screws threaded through apertures in the mounting box and into threaded bosses within the motor compartment. 'l'he'm'ounting box is formed with a hollow enlargement 88 (FIG. 2) at its stern or rear end and with a tubular boss 8? at its forward end arranged to align with the trunnion 26 to receive a screw inset into the trunnion and threaded into the boss 89, thiscomprising one of the nie anssecu ring lower hull 2G to upper hull 50.

Propulsion of the submarine is effected by propellers 90(EIG. 3A) dispose-d in the recesses 82 in fins 31 and secured to shafts 91 extending along the grooves Each shaft 91 has a spur gear 9 2-on its inner end dispozed in the hollow enlargement 88 of mounting box 87, these gears intermeshing'with each other. The gear 52 on the starboard; propeller shaft is engaged by a motor drive pinion 93. The propellers are thus counter-rotating-, and tend to maintain the submarine proceeding in a straight direction except when turned by means of its rudder as sembly described more fully hereinafter.

The recess 66 in closure plate 64 of stern ballast tank 65 serves for mounting the rear or stern gear box assembly. As best seen in FIG. 3A, there is a side recess 94 connected by a slot with the main recess 66, recess 94- being aligned with the shaft 91' of the starboard propeller 90. Recess 94 receives a worm gear 96 (FIG. 2) which meshes with aworm 95 on the starboard propeller shaft. Worm gear 96 is secured to a shaft 97 on which is a worm 98 which meshes with a control spur gear 159. A cross link has an integral pivot pin 101 seated in a suitable recess in the bottom of recess 66, and has an outer end ltlztorrned with an outwardly opening slot. The main portion of link 1195 overlies the control spur gear 1%, and this worm gear has a radially extending off-set or cam 103 on its lower surface having its outer end arranged to periodically engage cross link IlilS and move the same rearwardly. Recess 66 is substantially closed by a plate 194 (FIG. 2) having holes receiving the pivot lit and a hub or shaft on gear-190, plate 104 being cut away to expose the outer end H92 of cross link 165.

Cross link 1G5, periodically operated by the cam 153 on spur gear 10%, serves to step the control mechanism disposed in the control box compartment '75, best seen in FIGS. 2, 3A and 10. For this purpose, a wire rod 9h has a bent end secured to the outer end 162 of link 105, and its forward end is connected to a pawl which has a slot 106 by means of which pawl did is pivotal and slidable relative to a pin 197 in control compartment 75, pawl 11%} being biased forwardly by a coil spring secured between the pawl and a pin 169. The pawl llil is mounted in a generally rectangular control box Ill forming the compartment 75 and having a cover 112, and pins N7 and 1M are formed on the base of box 131. This control box is cemented to the upper hull 58. As will be explained more fully hereinafter, a single cam in control box #111 controls the steering and diving of the submarine as well as the launching of a missile therefrom.

Steering is effected by means of upper and lower rudders 115 (FIG. 2) which are secured on the opposite ends of a crank shaft 113 projecting through rudder posts 32 and 84. Crank shaft 113 has an off-set crank portion 114 (FIG. 3A) intermediate the two rudder posts.

Div-ing of the submarine is effected by bow planes 116 (FIG. 38) mounted on the opposite ends of a crank shaft 117 extending transversely of the bow and held in notches in the side walls of upper hull 50 by a track member 120 having a slot 121 forming a continuation of the slot 77. Track member 121) is cemented at its inner end to the flanges 76 of track wall 74, and its outer end is secured by screws to the cover 61} of bow ballast tank 55. This end of track member 120 has a threaded recess 122 aligned with boss 31 on bottom hull 20 and receiving a screw extending through boss 31 and having a head seated therein, and threaded into the aperture 122 to secure the bottom hull to the upper hull. For a purpose to be described, a dual pulley assembly 123 is rotatably mounted in track member 120. Crank shaft 117 has a crank portion 113 intermediate its ends.

The track formed by slots 77, 78, and 121 receives a missile launcher 125 (FIGS. 2, 7 and 8) which has headed legs 124 engaged in these slots. The body of launcher 125 has a tubular recess 126 facing the bow end thereof and in this recess is seated a compression coil spring 127. A pivoted catch 128 is mounted in a slot adjacent the forward end of the launcher, and is 'cooperable with a stop 129 (FIG. 8) on the upper hull laterally adjacent and near the end of the curved portion 78 of slot 77.

The launcher is operated by a Windlass arrangement mounted just forwardly of control box 1'11. This windlass arrangement, generally indicated at 1311 in FIGS. 5 and 6, includes a combined chain gripping pulley 131 and spur gear 132 mounted on a shaft 133 rotatably mounted in a bracket or box 134. Spaced forwardly of shaft 1'33 is a second shaft 136 on which is mounted an escapement or paddle wheel 135 integral with a pinion 137 meshing with gear 132. An endless chain 138 is trained over the pulley 131 and over one of the pulleys of the dual pulley assembly 123. The upper run of this chain is connected to one of the legs 124 of the launcher 125. An elastic cord 119 is trained over the other pulley of assembly 123 and has one end secured to the lower run of chain 138 and the other end secured, by a loop fastened over a pin on the base of ballast tank 71). Thus, the chain is biased in such a direction as to normally move the launcher up onto the deck and into the curved end 78 of the track slot 77.

Control Cam Assembly As stated, all of the maneuvering of the submarine, as well as the launching of a missile therefrom, is controlled by a single control cam 140 in the control box 111. As best seen in FIGS. 3A, and 11, this control cam is an integral member having, on its lowermost surface, a cam hub 141, and just inwardly of this a ratchet gear 142. Adjacent ratchet gear 142 there is a disk portion 143 and, on the upper surface of disk portion 143, there is a double lobe, essentially figure 8, ridge cam 144. Inset into the surface of the disk portion 143, there is a second and somewhat smaller double lobe figure 8 cam portion 145, the two cam portions 144 and 145 being angularly off-set from each other by an amount of the order of 30 degrees. The upper surface of the control cam 140 also has a cylindrical recess 146 which extends downwardly from the inner edge of the cam 145.

The control cam 140 has an axial aperture which is square in cross section and receives a relatively elongated square shaft 147. Shaft 147 extends rotatably through a tubular boss 148 on the base of control box 111, and the control cam rests against the lower end of this boss. The control cam 140 is operated by the pawl 110 (FIG. 3A) which has a nose 149 engageable with the teeth of ratchet gear 142. A second pawl 151, pivoted to the base of control box 111 and biased by a spring 152,

this may be accomplished by providing one prevents retrograde movement of the control cam, spring 152 being connected between pawl 151 and pin 109.

A steering lever is pivoted at one end to the base of control box 111 and has an aperture in its opposite end receiving one end of a bent rod 153, the other end of rod 153 being connected to the crank 114 of rudder crank shaft 113. On its under surface, steering lever 150 has a pair of pins 154 (FIG. 10) spaced apart by the thickness of the ridge cam 144 and arranged to receive this cam therebetween.

A diving lever 155 (FIG. 3A) is pivoted at one end on the base of control box 111 and has an aperture in its free end which is engaged by the bent end of a rod 156 having another bent end connected to the crank 118 of the bow planes crank shaft 117. A coil spring 157 is connected between the bow end of rod 156 and a pin on the cover 60 of the bow ballast tank 55, and normally biases the rod in such a manner as to maintain the bow plane substantially horizontal. Diving lever 155 has a downwardly projecting pin 158 intermediate its ends engaged in the recessed cam 145.

A firing lever 164) is pivoted intermediate its ends on an apertured ear on the control box 111, as shown in FIG. 3A, and has an end 159 engaging the cam hub 141. The opposite arm of firing lever 160 is bent to extend toward the bow and to port, and has a free end provided with a hook portion 161 cooperable with the paddle wheel 1-35. Inwardly of hook portion 161, this arm of lever 160 is formed with a recess 162. Recess 162 cooperates with the inner end of a forked lever 163 (FIGS. 5 and 6) pivoted on the mounting box 134 of the Windlass assembly and having a manual operating end projecting through a slot in the deck of the submarine. By pivoting the operating end of lever 163 toward the bow, the hook end 161 of firing lever 160 may be disengaged from the paddle wheel 135 to allow free rotation of this latter for a purpose to be described. Any suitable known or otherwise obvious means may be used to bias the firing lever 160 so that the hook end 161 engages the paddle wheel 135.

The upper end of shaft 147 projects through a circular aperture in cover plate 112, as does also the upper hub of control cam 140. The upper end of the square shaft 147 projects through the deck and upwardly through a conning tower 164 and through the top thereof where a radar scope 166 is mounted on the projecting end of shaft 147. Radar scope 166 thus moves with the control cam 140.

Control Switch As best seen in FIGS. 2, 5 and 9, conning tower 164 is in two sections, which are secured together by a screw and provide a partition 169 just beneath the top of the conning tower. This partition has an aperture through which extends a periscope periscope 165 also extending through an aperture in the top of the conning tower. Periscope 165 is firmly secured on the outer end of a square shaft 167 and, on the lower end of shaft 167, there is a hub 168 which is engaged in the periscope aperture in partition 169. This hub 168 has a pair of slots spaced apart somewhat more than 180 degrees and receiving the bent ends of an arcuate contact spring 170. Adjacent hub 168 there are a pair of tubular threaded bosses each receiving a contact screw 171 or 172.

In the position shown in FIG. 9, the contact spring 170 establishes contact between screws 171 and 172. However, by rotating the periscope a few degrees in either direction, contact spring 170 will disengage one of the two screws while remaining in engagement with the other, thus effectively acting as a switch. Conductor 38, connected to the battery spring 35, is brought into the motor housing and secured to one terminal of the motor. In practice, motor lead which is connected to conductor 38. The other motor lead 173 is brought into the conning tower and connected to one screw 171. Lead 39 from contact screw 44 is acts as a switch for opening and closing a series energizmg circuit for motor 85. l

Missile Launching A light plastic missile of any suitable shape, generally designated at 175 (FIGS. 2, 7 and 8-), is arranged to be the launcher is moved a little way down its track and then missile 175 has its guide 174 engaged in the tubular recess 126 and compressing coil spring 127. The catch 128 maintains the missile cocked. With lever 163 still held forwardly, cover 79 is lifted and missile launcher 125 is moved down as far as it will-go on the track member 120 and, when lever 163 is released, its hooked'end 161 will engage paddle wheel 135 to lock the missile in its position enclosed in the hull. When paddle wheel 135 is released by hook end 161 of firing lever 160, as described more fully hereinafter, the elastic cord 119 acting on the chain 138 rapidly pulls launcher 125 up into the curved end 7-8 of its slotted track. As the launcher reaches its limiting position, catch 12$ engages stop 129 and unlocks the missile which is then fired by the spring 127. Desirably, a very light thread or thelike is attached between the missile and the launcher to limit the movement of the missile away from the launcher.

' Operation While thesubmarine is designed for completely automatic operation, it may, if desired, have a manual control' superimposed thereon. For this purpose, a chain 176 may have a link looped over the wire 99 and be extended through the notch in the outer end of lever 105, this chain, which may also be a cord, extending through an -opening in the stern and being of any desired length. Thereby, during operation of the submarine, the operatormay efiect certain maneuvers by pulling on the chain to step the pawl 110 and thusthe cam 140. Also, where the area for maneuvering of the submarine is relatively restricted, a cord may be secured'to a cotter pin inserted through the side of the submarine near the how, this cotter pin not being shown in the drawing. The other end of the cord may be'anchored to a pole or the like inserted into a pond or other restricted body of water so that the range of movement of the submarine is correspondingly limited.

Before'operating the submarine, it must be properly ballasted to float level in the water and be submerged to about the base of the conning tower. When using ordinary dry cel-ls as the power source, a pair of steel plates 177 may be placed over the grid apertures 22 in the bottom hull and held therein by elastic bands or the like. In the event heavy-duty dry cells are used for longer battery life, these plates are not necessary and their use may be dispensed with. When the submarine is placed in the water, the hatch covers of the several ballast tanks are opened and water is selectively admitted to each of the ballast tanks until the submarine is level and the base of the conning tower is flush with the surface of the Water. The submarine is now ready to operate.

In the initial position, the rudders are set for straight ahead movement and the bow planes are horizontal. The submarine is started by turning periscope 165 until spring 170 contacts both screws 17 1 and 172. This closes the series energizing circuit for the motor 35. Propellers 90 are thus driven by motor 85 and the submarine moves straight ahead.

The gearing in the rear gear box also effects rotation of the gear 130 and, after a predetermined degree of rotation of this gear, its radial abutment 103 cams the lever 1G5 counterclockwise; as viewed in H6. 3A; which,

through the wire 99, moves pawl to step the ratchet wheel 142 of the cam 14!);

There are eight teeth on ratchet wheel 142, so that a complete sequence of maneuvers of the submarine involves eight steppings of the cam 140. At the first step-.

ping of cam 1411, cam surface 144, acting on the pins 154 causes steering lever 150, through crank shaft 113, to turn the rudders to starboard and the submarine swings to the right. At the second stepping of cam 140, cam surface 144 causes steering lever 15% to move the rudders to the straight ahead position, and cam surface 145, acting on the pin 158, causes diving lever 155, through crank shaft 117, simultaneously to deflect the bow planes so that the submarine dives.

At the third stepping of cam 140, the bow planes are moved to the horizontal position and the rudders are simultaneously turned to port, so that the submarine surfaces and swings to the left. On the fourth stepping of earn 140, the bow planes remain horizontal and the rudders are moved to the straight ahead position.

At the fifth stepping of cam 140, the rudders are turned to starboard and, at the same time, the cam hub 141 operates firing lever 160 to disengage its hook portion 161 from paddle wheel 135. This releases the Windlass assembly for rotation thereof by the elastic band or cord 119, and the Windlass assembly, through chain 138 rapidly moves the launcher 12.5 up its slotted track and into the curved and closed end 78 of this track. As the launcher enters the curved track end 78, catch 128 engages stop 129 and release missile 175. Under the influence of compressed coil spring 127 acting on the tubular rod 174, the missile 175 is forcibly ejected from the launcher and flies a considerable distance through the air.

On the sixth stepping of cam 140, the bow planes are deflected, so that the submarine dives, and the rudders are simultaneously moved to the straight ahead position. On the seventh stepping, the bow planes are moved to the horizontal position, so that the submarine surfaces, and the rudders are simultaneously turned to port. In the iinal or eighth stepping of cam 140, the bow planes remain horizontal and the rudders are moved to the ahead position.

The aforegoing sequence of maneuvers is then repeated, of course without further launching of the missile unless the submarine is recovered, the missile replaced in its launcher, and the launcher moved down into its hull compartment. Thisis effected by moving the forked control lever 163 forwardly to release hook portion 161 of firing lever from the paddle wheel 135, thereby allowing the launcher to be moved down its slotted track into its hull compartment and stretching the cord 119.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

l. A toy submarine comprising, in combination, a submersible hull structure; propeller means at the stern of the said hull structure; a selectively controlled motor in said hull structure; a source of motor power within said hull structure; driving mechanism operatively interconnecting said motor and said propeller means; steering ruddermeans movably mounted at the stern of said hull structure; diving plane means movably mounted at the bow of said hull'structure; an integral control cam member rotatably mounted in said hull structure and formed with plural cam surfaces; a steering lever pivotally mounted in said hull structure and operatively connected to said rudder means, said steering lever having an operating portion engaged with one of said cam surfaces; a diving lever pivotally mounted in said hull structure and operatively connected to said diving plane means,

, 9 said diving lever having an operating portion engaged with a second of said cam surfaces; said hull structure being formed with a missile launcher track extending between a storage position Within said hull structure and a firing position on the deck of said hull structure; a missile launcher movable along said track; biasing means in said hull structure secured to said launcher and biasing the latter to said firing position; latch means associated With said biasing means; a firing lever pivotally mounted in said hull structure and normally biased to coact with said latch means to render said biasing means ineffective to move said launcher to said firing position, said firing lever having an operating portlon engaged with a third of said cam surfaces; and stepping mechanism connected to said cam member and driven by sa d motor, said stepping mechanism, during operation of said motor, efiecting step-by-step rotation of said cam member; said cam surfaces being respectively correlated 1n such manner that, during each rotation of said cam member, said rudder lever is operated to effect turning movements and then to steer a straight course, then the diving lever is operated to effect a dive followed by surfacing of the submarine, and finally the firing lever is operated to release said latch means to render sa d biasing means effective to move said launcher to said firing position.

2. A toy submarine as claimed in claim 1 1n which said launcher has a forwardly opening recess; a coil spring seated in said recess; a missile having a guide engageable in said recess to compress said spring; a latch on said launcher engageable with said guide to retain the latter in said recess with said spring compressed; and an abutment on said deck adjacent said firing position and engageable with said latch to release the latter for firing of said missile as said launcher reaches said firing position.

3. A toy submarine as claimed in claim 1 including an operating lever pivotally mounted in said hull structure about a pivotal axis at substantially right angles to the pivotal axis of said firing lever; said operating lever having a forked end engaging said firing lever and an operating end projecting through said deck; whereby said operating lever may be moved to release said firing lever from said latch means.

4. A toy submarine as claimed in claim 1 in which said biasing means includes a Windlass rotatably mounted in said hull structure; an endless element trained around said Windlass; means securing said launcher to one run of said endless element; and resilient means secured to the other run of said endless element and tensioned by movement of said launcher to said storage position; said latch means being rotatably mounted and rotatable with said Windlass.

5. A toy submarine as claimed in claim 4 in which said endless element is a chain trained also over a pulley assembly spaced substantially from said Windlass adjacent said storage position; and in which said resilient means comprises a relatively elongated elastic cord secured to a run of said endless chain and to a fixed point in said hull structure.

6. A toy submarine as claimed in claim 4 in which said latch means comprises a rotatable element formed with uniformly angularly spaced stop projections and having a gear integral therewith meshing with a gear integral with said Windlass; said firing lever being normally biased to a position wherein its end projects into the path of movement of said stop projections.

7. A toy submarine comprising, in combination, a submersible hull structure; propeller means at the stern of the said hull structure; a selectively controlled electric motor in said hull structure; a dry cell battery within said hull structure; a series energizing circuit for said electric motor including said motor, said battery and a switch; an operating member for said switch projecting from said hull structure; a driving mechanism operatively interconnecting said motor and said propeller means; steering rudder means movably mounted at the stern of said hull structure; diving plane means movably mounted at the bow of said hull structure; an integral control cam member rotatably mounted in said hull structure and formed with plural cam surfaces; a steering lever pivotally mounted in said hull structure and operatively connected to said rudder means, said steering lever having an operating portion engaged with one of said cam surfaces; a diving lever pivotally mounted in said hull structure and operatively connected to said diving plane means, said diving lever having an operating portion engaged with a second of said cam surfaces; and stepping mechanism connected to said cam member and driven by said electric motor, said stepping mechanism, during operation of said electric motor, effecting step-by-step rotation of said cam member; said cam surfaces being respectively correlated in such manner that, during each rotation of said cam member, said rudder lever is operated to effect turning movements and then to steer a straight course, and then the diving lever is operated to effect a dive followed by surfacing of the submarine.

8. A toy submarine as claimed in claim 7 including a conning tower on said hull structure and a periscope projecting from and rotatable in said conning tower; said periscope constituting the operating member for said switch.

9. A toy submarine as claimed in claim 8 in which said integral control cam member is rotatable on a vertical shaft extending through said conning tower; and a simulated radarscope secured on the upper projecting end of said shaft.

10. A toy submarine as claimed in claim 1 in which said stepping mechanism includes a rotatable single lobe cam driven by said motor; a stepping lever pivotally mounted at one end in said hull structure and having an intermediate portion engaging said single lobe cam; a ratchet integral with said control cam member; a spring biased pawl operable to engage said ratchet to step said control cam member; and a link interconnecting the other end of said stepping lever and said pawl, whereby, during each rotation of said single lobe cam by said motor, said integral control cam member is stepped one step.

11. A toy submarine as claimed in claim 10 including an elongated flexible element secured to said other end of said stepping lever and extending outwardly through an opening in said hull structure adjacent the stern thereof; whereby said integral control cam member may be stepped manually by tugging on said elongated flexible element.

12. A toy submarine as claimed in claim 7 in which said hull structure includes separable upper and lower hulls disengageably secured to each other; said lower hull being formed with a battery compartment receiving said battery and having a removable cover whereby said battery may be readily interchanged; said upper hull having all of the remaining components of said submarine mounted therein in substantially watertight relation.

13. In a toy submarine having a hull structure, propelling mechanism, steering means, diving means, a missile launcher normally substantially enclosed in said hull structure and biased to emerge therefrom to a launching position, and a cocked missile on said launcher fired when the latter is in the launching position: means for controlling maneuvering of said submarine and firing of said missile comprising, in combination, an integral control cam member rotatably mounted in said hull structure and formed with plural cam surfaces; operating elements for said steering means and said diving means, and a release means for said launcher, respectively operatively engaged with different ones of said cam surfaces; a ratchet gear connected to said cam member and rotatable therewith, first pawl means connected to said propelling mechanism engaging said ratchet gear for rotating said cam member step-by-step during propelling of said submarine to perform a pre-set series of evolution including release of said 1-1: launcher ,for biased movement to, said launching position, 1,306,362 and second pawl means engaging said ratchet gear for 1,318,623 preventing retrograde movement of said control cam 2,457,281 member. 2,708,810 References Cited-in the file of-this patent 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,271,272, 'Bunkley, July 2, 1918 2,903,822

Wall June 10, 1919 Wall Oct. 14, 1919 Shannon Dec. 28, 1948 Canto et a1 May 24, 1955 Saives Oct. 8, 1957 Presnell Mar. 11, 1958 Holden Apr. 8, 1958 Reid Sept. 15, 1959 

7. A TOY SUBMARINE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A SUBMERSIBLE HULL STRUCTURE; PROPELLER MEANS AT THE STERN OF THE SAID HULL STRUCTURE; A SELECTIVELY CONTROLLED ELECTRIC MOTOR IN SAID HULL STRUCTURE; A DRY CELL BATTERY WITHIN SAID HULL STRUCTURE; A SERIES ENERGIZING CIRCUIT FOR SAID ELECTRIC MOTOR INCLUDING SAID MOTOR, SAID BATTERY AND A SWITCH; AN OPERATING MEMBER FOR SAID SWITCH PROJECTING FROM SAID HULL STRUCTURE; A DRIVING MECHANISM OPERATIVELY INTERCONNECTING SAID MOTOR AND SAID PROPELLER MEANS; STEERING RUDDER MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTED AT THE STERN OF SAID HULL STRUCTURE; DIVING PLANE MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTED AT THE BOW OF SAID HULL STRUCTURE; AN INTEGRAL CONTROL CAM MEMBER ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID HULL STRUCTURE AND FORMED WITH PLURAL CAM SURFACES; A STEERING LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED IN SAID HULL STRUCTURE AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID RUDDER MEANS, SAID STEERING LEVER HAVING AN OPERATING PORTION ENGAGED WITH ONE OF SAID CAM SURFACES; A DIVING LEVER PIV- 